BISHKEK, Trend, August 30. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has launched the Zhongda oil refinery of Zhongda China Petrol Company in the Chuy region after a four-year hiatus, Trend reports.
According to the administration of the president, during the event, Zhaparov also laid a time capsule for the refinery's modernization project.
The Zhongda is expected to reach full capacity by the end of the year, processing 800,000 tons of raw material annually and creating around 400 new jobs.
In his speech, Zhaparov highlighted that the refinery’s reopening symbolizes strengthened economic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China. He also noted that the modernization project will involve an investment of $450 million and will generate additional employment opportunities.
"The Zhongda refinery project, aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between China and Kyrgyzstan, has ambitious goals. However, the project was suspended for nearly five years, specifically until March 2024. Special bilateral teams were formed, plans were approved, and from November 2023 to March 2024, significant work was completed in a short period: processing capacities were expanded, a major overhaul was performed, and technologies were updated. The refinery is now ready to resume operations with its new capabilities," he said.